DOMESTIC MOUSE. 251 



pile very soft, and of moderate length; the tail 

 covered with short stiff hairs. The general colour 

 of the upper parts is greyish-brown, intermixed with 

 yellowish-brow;n, of the lower light yellowish-grey ; 

 the feet whitish, the tail dusky. The oesophagus is 

 an inch long ; the stomach large, its greatest dia- 

 meter nine-twelfths ; the intestine 15J inches to the 

 coecum, beyond it four inches ; the ccecum an inch 

 and a half long, with a diameter of three-twelfths. 



Inches. Lines. 



Length to end of tail 63 



of tail. 3 



head 11 



ears 5 



The colours vary considerably, some individuals 

 being much darker ; others with white hairs inter- 

 spersed. Individuals obtained in the fields are some- 

 times almost as beautifully coloured as the Wood 

 Mouse ; there being much yellowish-brown on their 

 upper parts, and their lower being of a dull cream- 

 colour. Albinoes of a yellowish-white colour, 

 with pink eyes, sometimes occur, and a variety 

 of this kind, which is propagated unchanged, is 

 kept as a pet. A more beautiful variety, which 

 some, however, consider as a distinct species, with 

 much softer fur, and of a white colour patched 

 with black, also propagates in confinement, is ex- 

 tremely gentle, and will run over the person of its 

 patron, and eat from his hand. These pets often 

 devour their young, and are of very delicate consti- 

 tution. 



